Desk-telephone.



A. C. REID.

DESK TELEPHONE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1911.

1,060,21 1 Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

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Patented Aprr29, 1913.

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Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

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the end of the preceding on'rn STTES ALEXANLER C. REID, 0F GENOA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CRACRAFT, LEIGH ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF GENOA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DESK-TELEPHONE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

Application filed January 24, 1911. Serial No. 604,354.

To all whom, it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER C. REID, a citizen of the United States, residing at Genoa, in the county of Dekalb and State have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Desk-Telephones, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to desk telephones or other similar portable telephones and has for its object the provision of improved facilities within a portable telephone for effecting certain circuit changes by means of springs or similar circuit changing apparatus therein.

My invention more particularly is an improvement on certain inventions of Oscar M. Leich for which applications for Letters Patent are now pending.

I am aware that it has been proposed and practically introduced to utilize a local battery telephone system in which a local battery at the substation is used for talking purposes, which battery either alone or in conjunction with an additional battery is used through the agency of delayed contact making appliances for sending a current impulse of appreciable time interval to the central station for the purpose of actuating suitable signals preferably in the form of drops.

I am also aware that a slow acting switching device capable of use in a wall telephone has been in practical operation to operate in accordance with the system set forth at paragraph. This particular switching device is so arranged that in its movement in one directiona clearing out drop may be actuated and in its movement in the other direction a line drop may be actuated. I am also aware that it has been proposed to provide means to accomplish the results aforesaid in connection with portable telephones, it being of prime importance not only to operate wall telehones but also portable telephones along the lines indicated. It has been a matter of long study to develop the portable telephone to operate as set forth and my present invention concerns itself with providing a structure to accomplish the result desired.

The device heretofore proposed has means for sending a prolonged impulse, or rather, an impulse of appreciable time interval over a line circuit and may be used for operation to send selective impulses if desired which may be regulated by the direction of movement of the switchhook lever. My present invention contemplates the addition of controlling apparatus to such impulse sending means, whereby a single impulse may be sent and the apparatus may be prevented from chattering or vibration during its operation, thereby to cause disturbances. also find it of great importance in the opera tion of portable telephone apparatus of this character that when the impulse is being sent over the line wires that the receiver circuit be open and not be closed until the impulse sending operation is practically completed. Likewise the receiver circuit should preferably be open before an impulse is being sent.

In describing the invention herein, I will describe it as applied directly to apparatus aforesaid and to make this application complete in itself will describe completely in the accompanying drawings such an entire device together with the functions it is to perform and will then set forth the particular improvements which my invention contemplates.

I will explain my invention more in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one form thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view partly in section of a portable telephone constructed in accordance wit-h my invent-ion, certain portions thereof being left out for the sake of clearness; Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the base of the telephone set forth in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on lines a-a of Fig. 2; Fig. t is a detail of construction; Fig. 5 is a perspective view more clearly illustrating features of construction, and: Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit conditions involved.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 6, I show the substation circuit and will explain the same first to indicate what functions the portable telephone switching devices are adapted to perform. In this Fig. 6, I show a receiver 1, a transmitter 2, together with an induction coil shown as mounted on a terminal block 4. Two sets of batteries are used, a talking bat- 8. The induction coil 1s tery 5 and an auxiliary signal sending battery 6, although the invention of course is not limited to the use of two batteries. Receiver circuit springs 7 and 8 are used and transmitter circuit closing springs 9 and 10. Three additional springs 11, 12 and 13 are used for automatic signal current impulse sending purposes. When springs 11 and 12 are in contact, for instance, current from the two batteries 5 and 6 is adapted to flow over the line wires 14 and 15 which lead to the central station, and when springs 11 and and 13 are in contact, current from the same two batteries in series is projected over the conductor 15 and the ground 16. When the receiver is on the switchhook lever 17, circuit through the springs 7, 8, 9 and 10 is open and neither the transmitter nor receiver is in circuit, as is well understood. lVhen the receiver is removed from the lever 17, however, springs 7 and 8 contact to close the receiver circuit, and springs 9 and 10 contact to close the transmitter circuit. The

' spring 11 is actuated to contact with either springs 12 or 13, as will appear hereinafter when it is desired to send selective current impulses so as to selectively operate the line drop and the clearing out drop. Should it be found that a metallic current impulse is sufficient, the spring 13 may either be dispensed with or may be utilized, if it is desired, to send a metallic impulse both when the receiver is removed and when it is re stored, in which event, of course, the ground connection for the spring 13 would be removed and said spring would be connected to the spring 12. The spring 11 is adapted not to contact with either the spring 12 or the spring 13 when the switchhook lever 17 is in either its uppermost or lowermost position. But the apparatus is so arranged herein, being adapted for selective signal sending purposes that when the lever moves from one limiting position to the other it establishes during movement and maintains during the movement a closure between springs 11 and 12, but breaks this connection again when it has reached its limiting position, whereas the reverse movement of said lever will during the movement of the said lever only connect springs 11 and 13, but again open the contact when the lever has reached its alternative limiting position. In the limiting positions of the switchhook therefore springs 11, 12 and 13 are unconnected, but during movement in one direction springs 11 and 12 are connected and during movement in the opposite direction springs 11 and 13 are connected; The circuit arrangements thus set forth require that the closure of the circuit through the springs 11 and 12 or 11 and 13 be for an appreciable time interval in order to provide sufficient time for the drops at the central ofiice to operate properly as a mere passing contact in many cases would be insuflicient and usually would be unreliable.

The invention herein contemplates meansfor sending an extended impulse by means of the springs 11, 12 and 13 before the receiver circuit through springs 9, and 10 is closed, and likewise on the reverse movement to open the receiver circuit before sending the extended impulse for clearing out purposes. I do not mean to say, of course, that the receiver circuit must be actually opened before the extended impulse is sent because the two might be done simultaneously. The main requirement is that during the greater portion of the time during which the extended impulse is being sent the receiver circuit shall be open. The invention further contemplates improved means in connection with the extended impulse sending devices which prevent chattering or vibration of the spring 11 as it is being released from the said devices.

The portable telephone as shown in Fig. 1 comprises the standard 18, within which the lever 17 is mounted, and the base 19. The transmitter 2 is supported at the top of the standard 18 and by means of radial arms 20 the devices within the base of the stand are held in place. The lever 17 controls a plunger 21 and this plunger is adapted to engage a roller 22 carried by the spring 7. In the illustration of Fig. 2, the plunger is in its uppermost position and circuit through the springs 7 and8 is closed. Should the plunger be depressed, for instance, as when the receiver 1 is replaced upon the lever 17, then the spring 7 as shown in Fig. 2 is bent in a clockwise direction and this opens the circuit between springs '7 and 8 and by virtue of the arm 23 opens the circuit between the springs 9 and 10 as will be explained hereinafter. The plunger 21 is provided with a knob 24 to operate the roller 22 and also serves to effect circuit changes between the springs 11, 12 and 13 by means of the construction which will now be described. 1

The springs 11, 12 and 13 are suitably insulated from each other and mounted on the arm 25 which forms part of a plate 26 that is rigidly fastened in the base of the telephone. A substantially L shaped'arm 27 is pivoted at 28 through the agency of the bracket 29 and carries a roller 30, which roller is arranged to be engaged by the head 24. The L shaped arm 27 is provided with a roller 31 which rolls over the plate 26. A spring 32 normally holds the arm in the position indicated in Fig. 2. The short leg of the arm 27 carries a spring actuating plate 33, which spring actuating plate has an inclined surface on its top face at one extremity and an inclined surface on its bottom face at the other extremit as will be more clear from an inspection of Fig. 5.

The spring 11 has a goose neck extension 34 which is slightly rounded at its extremity. This spring occupies a. position with relation to the plate 33 as will be more clearly apparent from an inspection of Fig. 1. When the plate moves in one direction from its original limiting position, it bends the spring 11 downwardly into contact with spring 13 and maintains this contact while the arm 27 is moving to its limiting position. Slightly prior to the time that the arm 27 has reached its limiting position, however, the plate 33 has passed beyond the extension 34 and the spring resumes its normal non-contact making position.

The above described operation would take place when the arm is moved in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2) to its limiting dotted position shown in Fig. 2. This occurs when the receiver is replaced upon the hook. When the receiver is removed the plate 33 again engages the extension 34, but this time presses it upwardly against the spring 12 throughout practically its entire motion until shortly before it has reached the limiting position indicated in Fig. 2 while traveling in a contra-clockwise direction, at which time the extension 34 has again left the plate 33 and is in its normal position.

It will thus be seen that a movement of the plate 33 in one direction closes circuit. through the springs 11 and 12 and a movement in the opposite direction closes circuit through the springs 11 and 13. This circuit closure, however, lasts only throughout the movement and at the time the limiting position is reached of the movement in either direction the circuit is again open. On account of the long lever arm, the arm 27 being pivoted at 28, a wide sweep is given to the plate 33 and the circuit closure through springs 11 and 12 or 11 and 13 is of an appreciable time interval, sufiiciently to actuate the drop at the central station which would remain generally unactuated were the contact merely momentary. The pressure of the head 24 against the roller 30 moves the arm 27 in a clockwise direction and the release of the pressure permits the spring 22 to move the arm 27 in its contraclockwise movement.

The operation of the structure herein will be apparent when it is noted that the first slight downward movement of the arm 27 opens the circuit through the springs 9 and 10 preferably prior to the time that the devices 33 and 34 come into operation. Likewise when the receiver is removed from the hook the extended impulse is sent before the arm 23 engages the springs 9 and 10 to effect a closure thereof. In order to prevent vibration of the spring 11 as the extension 34 leaves the opposite extremities of the plate 33, I provide two springs 35, 35

against which the extension 34 projects immediately it leaves the plate 33 and thus prevents continued vibration of the spring 11 which may tend to send erroneous signals. The device thus constituted is capable of sending the extended impulse without having momentary impulses succeed the extended impulse as might be the case when the spring 11 is free to vibrate after it has left the plate 33.

I am not describing the terminal connections in the desk set base nor some of the other features which are not parts of my present invention, but am describing merely the operative features necessary for a proper understanding of my invention. 1, of course, do not mean to limit myself to the precise construction as set forth herein as the invention is capable of a great variety of uses and many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my said invent-ion. I have, however, described one embodiment thereof herein, and what I broadly claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A portable telephone having switching springs one of which is movable, a movable member adapted during movement only, from one limiting position to the other to establish and maintain a circuit changing operation of said switching springs, and guide springs associated with said movable member to prevent vibration of said movable spring.

2. A portable telephone having three switching springs one of which is movable, a movable member adapted during movement inone direction only, from one limiting position to the other to establish and maintain a contact between the first and second of said springs and during movement in the opposite direction only, from one limiting position to the other to establish and maintain contact between the first and third of said springs, and guide springs associated with said movable member to prevent vibration of said movable spring.

3. A- portable telephone having switching devices one of which is movable a movable member adapted during movement only, from one limiting position to the other to establish and maintain a circuit changing operation of said switching devices, and guide springs associated with said movable member to prevent vibration of said movable device.

4. A portable telephone having three switching devices one of which is movable, a movable member adapted during movement in one direction only, from one limiting position to the other to establish and maintain a contact bet-ween the first and second of said devices and during movement in the opposite direction only, from one limiting position to the other to establish and maintain contact between the first and third of said devices, and guide springs guide springs to prevent vibration of said 10 associated With said movable member to premovable spring. vent vibration of said movable device. In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 5. A portable telephone having switching my name this 9th day of January A. D., springs one of which is movable, a movable 1911.

member adapted during movement only ALEXANDER C. REID.

from one limiting position to the other to Witnesses:

establish and maintain a circuit changing OSCAR M. LEIGH,

operation of said switching springs, and CHAS. L. NELSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

